Boat Insulation in Greater Manchester
Polyurethane Spray Foam Insulation for Boats, Narrowboats, Widebeams, and Barges in Manchester.
At Websters Insulation, we are specialists in the application of sprayed foam insulation. We have over 35 years of experience with the insulation of boats and barges across Manchester, and the UK as a whole.
Spray foam insulation is currently the number one choice for boats, and is particularly popular for canal boats. This is mainly due to the wide range of benefits offered by this unique and lightweight form of insulation.
For all of our projects, we use the Webtherm spray foam system. It is applied to surfaces in a liquid form, where it then very rapidly expands to the required thickness, before quickly setting into a rigid foam form. The main benefit of this is that it fills in all gaps, creating a continuous membrane. This eliminates draughts and reduces possibilities of conducting cold air. Thus, in addition to providing highly thermally efficient properties, it also boasts energy saving advantages.
Within the industry, insulation effectiveness is measured in terms of ‘u’ values. Spray foam boat insulation boasts extremely good ‘u ‘ values (thermal efficiency). For instance, when comparing spray foam insulation to ‘Rockwool’, almost three times as much ‘Rockwool’ (by thickness) would be needed to achieve an equivalent ‘u’ value. This is the main reason why foam is a clear choice for boat owners in Manchester.
Additionally, we install MCA and SOLAS approved marine injection foam where required. This is a low density, slow rising foam called Ecofil40, designed to infill cavities on vessels such as sea fairing and passenger boats where the most stringent planning rules apply. Call us on 01405 812682 for more details and advice on this.
Our boat insulation photos:
Some other benefits associated with sprayed foam boat insulation:
- Temperature fluctuations are reduced
- Noise and vibrations are reduced, particularly from the engines
- Condensation is prevented from forming on the boat’s shell
- It is very long lasting, and could even outlive the boat!
- Spray foam works instantly
- It performs well in damp environments as it has a closed cell structure (almost waterproof)
- It does not produce unwanted smells (damp) when exposed to water
- Spray foam is compatible with electric wiring, with no adverse reaction, unlike Polystyrene
With current climate change concerns, and frequent fuel price rises, it is no surprise that spray foam is such a popular option with boat owners across Manchester. The extensive list of benefits speak for themselves.
Typically, spray foam is only successfully applied and gauged by skilled engineers. That’s where we come in at Websters – please feel free to contact us to discuss your boat insulation project in Manchester today.
At Websters Insulation, we pride ourselves on offering the highest quality of service and workmanship, at competitive prices. We are the UK market leader in boat insulation, having provided the service for over 30 years.
We have undertaken countless insulation projects on all types of boats across Manchester, and the country as a whole. The Webtherm system is the only method we use at Websters due to it’s superior qualities. The continuous membrane adheres to virtually any surface whilst offering the most efficient insulative properties.
How thick should the insulation be?
We tend to use around 25mm-30mm of spray foam on narrow boats and wide beams. We understand how valuable the internal space is, particularly on a narrow boat! Typically, a 30mm thickness fits neatly between the battens (which are 30mm on average) and will provide a reasonable degree of insulation as well as preventing condensation formation.
For a Dutch Barge, or similar, we will often recommend somehwere between 50mm and 100mm, depending on what the steel ribs or timber battens will allow. Typically, a live aboard Dutch Barge benefits from between 85mm and 100mm of foam insulation, depending on the particular boat.
Is the foam fire rated?
In a word, yes. The foam carries a surface spread of flame rating of Class One, being suitable for almost all types of commercial and domestic marine vessels. We can provide fire certificates where required.
* Websters Insulation are approved by British Waterways.
All materials adhere to a minimum of ‘BS476 part 7 class one’ fire regulations.
Please feel free to fill in our free quote form below. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible to discuss your boat insulation project in Manchester.